BySenators Hansen, Nobles, Dhingra, Fortunato, Frame, Hasegawa, Hunt, Keiser, Kuderer, Liias, Lovelett, Nguyen, Pedersen, Randall, Saldaña, Salomon, Shewmake, Stanford, Trudeau, Valdez, Van De Wege, and C. Wilson

Prefiled 01/05/24.Read first time 01/08/24.Referred to Committee on Higher Education & Workforce Development.

AN ACT Relating to expanding financial aid eligibility; amending RCW 28B.92.205; and adding a new section to chapter 28B.92 RCW.

(1) In addition to other eligibility requirements outlined in this chapter, students who demonstrate financial need are eligible to receive the Washington college grant.

(((1) Until academic year 2020-21, students with family incomes between zero and fifty percent of the state median family income, adjusted for family size, shall receive the maximum Washington college grant as defined in RCW 28B.92.030. Grants for students with incomes between fifty-one and seventy percent of the state median family income, adjusted for family size, shall be prorated at the following percentages of the maximum Washington college grant amount:

(a) Seventy percent for students with family incomes between fifty-one and fifty-five percent of the state median family income;

(b) Sixty-five percent for students with family incomes between fifty-six and sixty percent of the state median family income;

(c) Sixty percent for students with family incomes between sixty-one and sixty-five percent of the state median family income; and

(d) Fifty percent for students with family incomes between sixty-six and seventy percent of the state median family income.

(2) Beginning with academic year 2020-21, except during the 2022-23, 2023-24, and 2024-25 academic years, students))

(a) Students with family incomes between zero and ((fifty-five))70 percent of the state median family income, adjusted for family size, shall receive the maximum Washington college grant as defined in RCW 28B.92.030((. During the 2022-23, 2023-24, and 2024-25 academic years, students with family incomes between zero and sixty percent of the state median family income, adjusted for family size, shall receive the maximum Washington college grant.)); and

(b) Grants for students with incomes between ((fifty-six))71 and ((one hundred))100 percent of the state median family income, adjusted for family size, shall be prorated at the following percentages of the maximum Washington college grant amount:

(((a) Seventy))(i) 50 percent for students with family incomes between ((fifty-six))71 and ((sixty))80 percent of the state median family income((, except during the 2022-23, 2023-24, and 2024-25 academic years));

(((b) Sixty))(ii) 25 percent for students with family incomes between ((sixty-one))81 and ((sixty-five))90 percent of the state median family income((, except during the 2023-24 and 2024-25 academic years when student grant award shall not be prorated and students shall receive the maximum award;

(c) Fifty percent for students with family incomes between sixty-six and seventy percent of the state median family income;

(d) Twenty-four and one-half percent for students with family incomes between seventy-one and seventy-five percent of the state median family income)); and

(((e) Ten))(iii) 10 percent for students with family incomes between ((seventy-six))91 and ((one hundred))100 percent of the state median family income.

(1) As part of the Washington college grant program, all Washington college grant recipients who qualify for the maximum Washington college grant, but who are not recipients of the college bound scholarship program under chapter 28B.118 RCW are entitled to also receive an annual bridge grant of $500.

(2) The office shall award bridge grants to eligible students beginning with the 2024-25 academic year.

(3) To receive the full bridge grant for which the student qualifies, the student needs to be enrolled in an institution of higher education on at least a half-time basis. Students enrolled less than half-time must receive a prorated bridge grant.

(4) The bridge grant must be applied to a student's financial aid package after all other gift aid has been awarded to the student.

(5) As used in this section, "bridge grant" means an annual stipend provided in addition to the Washington college grant to provide supplementary financial support to low-income students to cover higher education expenses beyond tuition and fees, such as books, lab fees, supplies, technology, transportation, housing, and child care.